Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Timeline: History, Playoff Drama, and Head-to-Head Record
It was Game 7. Ball Arena was shaking. Jamal Murray had just dropped 43 points in Game 5, Aaron Gordon threw down the first walk-off dunk in playoff history in Game 4, and somehow, the series was still alive heading into one final winner-take-all showdown. That was the 2025 NBA Playoffs — the latest explosive chapter in the Clippers vs Denver Nuggets timeline, a rivalry built on playoff heartbreaks, comeback stories, and some of the West’s most elite talent going toe-to-toe.
This rivalry doesn’t always get the mainstream spotlight, but the numbers and moments tell a different story.
Denver Owns the All-Time Head-to-Head Record
Let’s start with what the data says. In 218 total games played between these two franchises — including regular season and playoffs — Denver leads 121–97, a winning rate of 55.5%. That’s a significant edge.
In regular-season play alone, the Nuggets hold a 112–87 advantage, which works out to a 56.3% winning percentage. The Clippers have not been able to break even against Denver historically, and that gap has only widened in recent years.
Through the 2025–26 season, Denver Nuggets won the first two regular-season meetings. The Clippers then pulled off a narrow 115–114 win on February 19, 2026 at Intuit Dome, making the current 2025–26 record 2–1 in Denver’s favor.
A Turning-Point Timeline: Three Eras That Defined the Rivalry
Era 1: The Quiet Years (Pre-2006)
Before either team had a legitimate title contender, this matchup was just another Western Conference game on the schedule. The Clippers spent most of the 1980s and 1990s near the bottom of the league. Denver had flashes of brilliance — Alex English in the ’80s, the Dikembe Mutombo run in the early ’90s — but no consistent power. The Clippers’ longest all-time winning streak in this rivalry was actually 8 games, running from December 1990 through April 1992, back when neither team was taken seriously.
Era 2: The First Playoff Meeting and Bubble Collapse (2006–2020)
The first playoff showdown came in 2006. Denver, led by a young Carmelo Anthony, entered as the No. 3 seed against the No. 6 Los Angeles Clippers — a team that had Elton Brand and Sam Cassell clicking on all cylinders. The Clippers took the series 4–1, marking their first-ever playoff series win since relocating to Los Angeles. Anthony struggled to find his rhythm, and internal turmoil — Kenyon Martin was benched for insubordination — unraveled Denver’s series. Los Angeles moved on. Denver went home.
Then 2020 happened. In the NBA bubble in Orlando, the Clippers had their most hyped roster ever. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were considered championship favorites. Denver was the scrappy underdog led by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. The Clippers won three of the first four games and appeared to have the series locked up. What followed was one of the most jaw-dropping collapses in NBA history.
The Nuggets won three straight. In Game 7, Murray exploded for 40 points and Jokić recorded 16 points, 22 rebounds, and 13 assists — the most rebounds by a Nuggets player in a single playoff game. Denver won 104–89. The Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3–1 series deficit twice in the same postseason, having already done it against Utah in the first round. The Clippers vs Denver Nuggets timeline had its defining moment — and it came at LA’s expense.
Era 3: Jokić Takes Over, Clippers Rebuild (2021–Present)
After the bubble collapse, Kawhi’s injuries became a recurring storyline in Los Angeles. The Clippers moved into their brand-new Intuit Dome, rebuilt around James Harden and a finally-healthy Kawhi Leonard. Denver, meanwhile, won the 2023 NBA Championship and secured Nikola Jokić’s legacy as a generational talent. The Nuggets held an 8-game winning streak in this rivalry between January 2022 and November 2023.
The 2025 Playoffs: Another Game 7, Same Result
The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs featured a rematch for the ages. Denver (4th seed) vs. Los Angeles (5th seed). Both teams finished the regular season 50–32. The series was tied heading into each game — no team won back-to-back games after Game 2.
Here’s how it played out:
- Game 1 – Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT): Harden dropped 32 points and 11 assists, but Russell Westbrook’s late-game heroics sent it to overtime and Denver escaped.
- Game 2 – Clippers 105, Nuggets 102: Kawhi Leonard went 15-for-19 from the field for 39 points. One of the best individual playoff performances in this rivalry’s history.
- Game 3 – Clippers 117, Nuggets 83: First-ever playoff game at Intuit Dome. Clippers hit 18 threes. Denver looked completely flat.
- Game 4 – Nuggets 101, Clippers 99: Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beater walk-off dunk — the first of its kind in playoff history — flipped the series momentum.
- Game 5 – Nuggets 131, Clippers 115: Murray went off for 43 points and 8 three-pointers. Westbrook added a spark off the bench.
- Game 6 – Clippers 111, Nuggets 105: Harden bounced back with 28 points. Kawhi added 27. Los Angeles forced Game 7.
- Game 7 – Nuggets 120, Clippers 101: Denver built an 11-point halftime lead and then outscored the Clippers 35–19 in the third quarter. Jokić finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Gordon scored 22. The Clippers had no answer.
For the Clippers, it was a second brutal Game 7 loss to Denver in five years. For Denver, it was business as usual.
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The Star Matchup That Defines This Rivalry
No factor shapes this rivalry more than Nikola Jokić. The three-time MVP has been Denver’s engine against the Clippers in every significant moment. His 2020 Game 7 performance — 22 rebounds, 13 assists — is still one of the more statistically dominant center performances in playoff history. In the 2025 series, he averaged a near triple-double across 7 games.
For the Clippers, the lack of a consistent rival to Jokić has been the core problem. Ivica Zubac can hold his own at times — he had a solid defensive effort in certain 2025 games — but there’s no center in NBA history who matches up cleanly with Jokić for a full series. Harden and Kawhi can carry LA in individual games, as both proved in 2025. The issue is sustaining that over seven games against a balanced Denver squad.
2024–25 Regular Season: Even on Paper, Denver Wins When It Counts
The 2024–25 regular season was tight. The series finished 2–2.
- Oct 26, 2024 – Clippers 109, Nuggets 104: Jokić went for 41 points and a career-high 7 threes, but Powell dropped 37, and Harden made four clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds to steal the win.
- Dec 1, 2024 – Clippers 126, Nuggets 122: Another close win for LA.
- Dec 13, 2024 – Nuggets 120, Clippers 98: Denver dominates comfortably.
- Jan 8, 2025 – Nuggets 126, Clippers 103: Denver closes out the regular-season series with a statement.
The Clippers won the early battles but couldn’t keep pace in January. When the playoffs arrived, Denver used that momentum to go all the way to Game 7 — and then blew the Clippers out.
For a full breakdown of how both squads performed on a game-by-game basis, Denver Nuggets season stats and game log has everything you need in one place.
Clutch Performance Analysis: Who Shows Up in Tight Games?
In the last 10 close games — decided by 5 points or fewer — Denver holds the edge. Jokić’s ability to generate offense for others while scoring himself makes him nearly impossible to game-plan in the fourth quarter. Murray has shown repeatedly — 2020, 2023, 2025 — that he is one of the better clutch players in the entire league.
The Clippers have their own clutch guys. Kawhi Leonard’s Game 2 performance in 2025 (39 points on 79% shooting) was elite. Harden’s free-throw reliability in pressure moments gives LA an edge at the line. But Denver’s team-wide clutch depth — Gordon, Murray, and Jokić all capable of making winning plays — gives them the structural advantage.
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Home vs. Away Edge Detail
Denver’s altitude at Ball Arena has historically been a factor. The Nuggets have owned their home floor in this rivalry. In the 2025 series, they went 3–1 at Ball Arena. Los Angeles countered 2–1 at home, with the first-ever game at Intuit Dome going to the Clippers in a blowout. But Denver’s road resilience in key games — particularly when Jokić is involved — means home court rarely tells the full story.
Latest Matchup: February 19, 2026 — Clippers 115, Nuggets 114
This one came down to the final possession. Bennedict Mathurin put on a show at Intuit Dome,
scoring 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting while going 12-of-13 from the free-throw line.
That kind of performance doesn’t come around often — and it was the difference in a one-point
Clippers win that snapped a two-game skid in this rivalry.
Nikola Jokić did everything he could. He finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists
but shot just 9-of-22 from the field. Jamal Murray added 20 points and 8 assists, while
Bruce Brown came off the bench with a quiet 19 on 66.7% shooting. Denver simply couldn’t
match Mathurin’s aggression at the line, going 23-of-31 on free throws compared to
the Clippers’ 25-of-30.
Kawhi Leonard contributed 23 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 22 in a balanced LA effort.
The Clippers shot 47.1% from the field versus Denver’s 45.3%, and their superior
free-throw execution sealed the one-point edge.
Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Match Player Stats | Feb 19, 2026
Denver Nuggets
| Player | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Johnson F | 35:18 | 6 | 12 | 50.0 | 2 | 7 | 28.6 | 4 | 4 | 100 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 18 | +2 |
| Julian Strawther F | 25:00 | 6 | 11 | 54.5 | 6 | 10 | 60.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | +6 |
| Nikola Jokić C | 36:07 | 9 | 22 | 40.9 | 0 | 6 | 0.0 | 4 | 7 | 57.1 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 22 | -6 |
| Christian Braun G | 34:26 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -5 |
| Jamal Murray G | 34:59 | 5 | 15 | 33.3 | 2 | 5 | 40.0 | 8 | 10 | 80.0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 20 | -1 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 20:21 | 1 | 5 | 20.0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -6 |
| Bruce Brown | 25:28 | 6 | 9 | 66.7 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 4 | 7 | 57.1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 19 | +1 |
| Spencer Jones | 16:27 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -1 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 11:54 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | +5 |
| Totals | — | 39 | 86 | 45.3 | 13 | 40 | 32.5 | 23 | 31 | 74.2 | 6 | 39 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 24 | 114 | -1 |
Source: NBA.com official box score — February 19, 2026
LA Clippers
| Player | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi Leonard F | 32:52 | 8 | 18 | 44.4 | 1 | 7 | 14.3 | 6 | 8 | 75.0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | -9 |
| John Collins F | 31:39 | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | -1 |
| Brook Lopez C | 30:48 | 4 | 10 | 40.0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | -3 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. G | 33:33 | 7 | 15 | 46.7 | 2 | 7 | 28.6 | 6 | 7 | 85.7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 | -2 |
| Kris Dunn G | 29:24 | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +2 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 33:49 | 12 | 22 | 54.5 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 12 | 13 | 92.3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 38 | +4 |
| Yanic Konan Niederhäuser | 13:14 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +7 |
| Jordan Miller | 13:13 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +6 |
| Nicolas Batum | 17:37 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | +2 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 3:50 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1 |
| Totals | — | 41 | 87 | 47.1 | 8 | 33 | 24.2 | 25 | 30 | 83.3 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 115 | +1 |
Source: NBA.com official box score — February 19, 2026
What’s Next for This Rivalry
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Denver swept both early regular-season meetings. The Clippers broke a two-game skid in this rivalry with their February 2026 win, though Denver still leads the 2025–26 season series 2–1. Kawhi Leonard has stayed healthy, which is encouraging for LA’s long-term hopes. Harden continues to be efficient and unguardable in spot moments.
But Jokić is still Jokić. Murray is a proven playoff performer. And Denver has shown, across two brutal Game 7s in five years, that when it matters most — they close.
The Clippers vs Denver Nuggets timeline is not finished. It’s just waiting for the next chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the all-time head-to-head between Clippers and Nuggets?
Denver leads the all-time series 121–97 in all games combined. In the regular season alone, the Nuggets hold a 112–87 record over the Clippers, which reflects their long-term dominance in this matchup.
How many times have the Clippers and Nuggets met in the playoffs?
The two teams have met three times in the playoffs — in 2006, 2020, and 2025. Denver leads the playoff series record 2–1, having won in 2020 and 2025 while the Clippers won the lone series in 2006.
What happened in the 2020 Clippers vs Nuggets series?
Denver came back from a 3–1 series deficit to beat the Clippers 4–3 in the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals. Jamal Murray scored 40 points in Game 7, and Jokić had 16 points, 22 rebounds, and 13 assists in one of the most historic playoff performances by a center.
Who won the 2025 Clippers vs Nuggets playoff series?
Denver won the series 4–3 in a grueling first-round battle. After trading wins throughout, the Nuggets dominated Game 7 by a score of 120–101, with Aaron Gordon leading the way with 22 points and Christian Braun adding 21.
What was Aaron Gordon’s historic play in the 2025 playoffs?
Aaron Gordon threw down a buzzer-beater dunk in Game 4 to give Denver a 101–99 win, marking the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history. It swung the series momentum completely in Denver’s favor.
What is Nikola Jokić’s record against the Clippers in the playoffs?
Jokić has been outstanding against the Clippers in playoff settings. He averaged near triple-double numbers across both the 2020 and 2025 series and delivered signature moments — including 22 rebounds and 13 assists in the 2020 Game 7.
How did the 2024–25 regular season series between the Clippers and Nuggets end?
The regular-season series finished tied at 2–2. The Clippers won the October and December openers, while Denver closed the year with wins in December and January — building momentum heading into their first-round playoff series.
What happened in the most recent Clippers vs Nuggets game?
On February 19, 2026, the Clippers beat the Nuggets 115–114 at Intuit Dome. Bennedict Mathurin led LA with 38 points, while Nikola Jokić finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for Denver.
What is the longest winning streak either team has had in this rivalry?
Both teams have had 8-game winning streaks in this rivalry. The Clippers’ streak ran from December 1990 to April 1992. Denver’s most recent 8-game run lasted from January 2022 to November 2023, during the peak of the Jokić era.
